MANILA, Philippines - Seven more suspected drug personalities were killed in separate incidents in Bulacan and Rizal in the past two days.

Senior Superintendent Romeo Caramat Jr., Bulacan police acting director, identified five of the fatalities as Marilyn Cruz, a certain Edor, an alias Roan and a man known only as Tipak.

Tipak and his unidentified companion allegedly drew their guns at police operatives during a sting in Barangay Muzon in San Jose del Monte City on Thursday night. Police said a sachet of shabu, two guns and P500 in cash were recovered from the fatalities.

Also in San Jose del Monte City, a man was found dead along the road in Sitio Paculis, Barangay Gaya-Gaya. A piece of cardboard identifying the victim as a drug pusher and carjacker was found near his body.

Edor was killed in an alleged encounter with anti-drug operatives in Barangay Bangkal in Malolos City at around 3:40 a.m. yesterday.

Motorcycle-riding men gunned down Cruz and Roan in Sitio Dike, Barangay Banga 2nd in Plaridel town also yesterday. The fatalities were known drug pushers in their respective barangays, police said.

In Rizal, Eduardo Morales, alias Bonjon, allegedly shot it out with anti-drug operatives in Barangay San Juan in Taytay town.

Woman beheaded

Meanwhile, the decapitated body of a woman was dumped along Caysio Road in Sitio Luwasan, Barangay Caysio in Sta. Maria town at around 11 p.m. on Thursday.

Superintendent Rainel Valones, Sta. Maria police chief, said they have yet to identify the victim and the motive for the killing.

In Camarines Norte, police are investigating two gun attacks that left two persons dead on Thursday.

Raul Betchayda, 50, was watching television at his house in Barangay Palanas in Paracale town when unidentified men entered and shot him.

Larry Abanto, an employee of the provincial treasurer’s office, was standing in front of his rented apartment in Barangay 8 in Daet at around 6:30 p.m. when he was gunned down. – Ric Sapnu, Ramon Efren Lazaro, Non Alquitran, Francis Elevado, Emmanuel Tupas

Jeepney drivers will be provided with the third tranche of cash assistance this month to help them and their families cope with the crisis caused by the coronavirus disease 2019, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said.

It has become quite apparent from our own experiences and that of other countries during the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19 pandemic that governments are becoming increasingly reliant on digital technologies to fight the pandemic and mitigate its impact on society and the economy.